Buick is going from the inside out as it teases the upcoming Enclave update.
We’ve not even punched our ticket for the Geneva Motor Show but automakers are clearly looking ahead to the next big even in auto show season, the New York International Auto Show, with Buick revealing plans to pull the wraps off the updated Enclave crossover/utility vehicle at Jacob Javits Center next month.
The Enclave has been a special product in the Buick line-up, arguably serving as the first product to begin the General Motors division’s unexpected revival after years of decline. Surprisingly, demand for the outgoing CUV has remained strong, despite its age, hitting an all-time high in 2011. But in today’s competitive market, nothing lasts forever – indeed, four years is a virtual lifetime – so the update of the Buick Enclave is scheduled to take its bows in the Big Apple.
This teaser image focuses on the interior – where critics contend Buick needs the most work. The pic suggests the new Enclave will visually move upscale, with more textured surfaces, sophisticated ambient lighting and an advanced infotainment system that uses touchscreen controls to take on many key tasks.
The Intellilink system is GM’s answer to the popular Ford Sync, and will allow a motorist to operate systems like audio and navigation by touching the big LCD display, using steering wheel-mounted buttons or by using voice controls.
While key controls for climate control and primary audio functions – such as tuning and volume – still get “hard” switches and knobs, the maker can move away from Enclave’s current, cluttered instrument panel layout, which features a confusing cluster of controls.
The entire interior is bathed in a signature neon-blue ambient lighting, a touch Buick – like key competitors – has been migrating to in a bid to note only enhance the driving experience but give the cabin a decidedly more upscale feel.
Such changes are meant to keep the brand’s momentum going.
Going into its 2009 bankruptcy, during which the White House demanded GM abandon half of its eight North American brands, many observers expected Buick to go away. Instead, it survived at the expense of Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and Hummer. GM officials suggested that they didn’t want to kill off Buick in the U.S. because that would hurt the brand’s strong position in China.
Whatever the reason, a move to refresh an aging line-up began with the original Enclave and has since been followed with a mix of increasingly stylish offerings like the current LaCrosse and newer Regal and Verano sedans. Buick also introduced the all-new Encore, a compact luxury crossover, this year, which could tap one of the market’s fastest-growing segments. But Enclave will continue to play a critical role in the brand’s revival, Buick is betting, with the upcoming 2013 update.